As Omicron Variant Spreads, States Aim for Balance Between Curbs and Safety

As states grapple with how to rein in the spreading Omicron variant, many governors and health officials are applying a lighter touch than during previous Covid-19 surges, as they are armed with more tools to combat the virus and increasingly mindful of the economic harm caused by sweeping restrictions. Many decision makers say they are trying to avoid strict measures enacted during previous Covid-19 surges by encouraging vaccinations, increasing capacity for rapid testing and closely watching factors such as hospital admissions and booster-shot uptake. “I’m trying to build long-term solutions,” New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, said in an interview Tuesday, adding that he expects the pandemic may be a part of life for a while. “So the answer there is not to turn things on and off as things surge or don’t surge. We have the tools to manage this.”